The different kinds of metal cutting

18 March 2016

When it comes to metal cutting, there are lot more options available than you might expect. Technology has come on leaps and bounds in the last few decades, enabling all different kinds of metal to be cut more smoothly, quickly and efficiently than ever before.

Let’s take a look at some of the cutting processes on offer.

Laser cutting

With laser cutting, a highly concentrated beam of light reaches an extremely high temperature. This hot beam can cut metal precisely and efficiently. When used in conjunction with the latest computer programs, the laser can be controlled with a high level of accuracy, giving a neat finish and enabling intricate designs to be followed.

Flame cutting

In a similar way to laser, a hot gas flame (reaching approximately 3,500 degrees centigrade) can be used to cut metal. This kind of cutter is known as an oxy acetylene cutter or just oxy cutter.

Water jet cutting

Water jets work by shooting a stream of highly pressurised water at the metal in order to cut it, effectively eroding away the unnecessary metal.

Plasma cutting

Another method which utilises heat, plasma cutting involves a plasma torch pumping out oxygen or an inert gas at a high speed, while sending electricity through the gas at the same time. This creates a hot plasma stream that can melt metal and blow molten metal away fast, resulting in a clean cut. The latest plasma cutting technology is not as accurate as laser cutting. The best plasma’s are only accurate to ±2mm whereas lasers are accurate to ± 0.2mm.

Metal Turning

With this method of metal cutting, the metal is turned quickly on a device such as a lathe while a sharp cutting tool is applied to the surface.

Drilling

When force and rotation are combined with a drill bit to form a hole or other shape in the metal’s surface, it’s simply known as drilling.